Features & Design

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 comes with various advanced features and supported by 1-inch sensor and superzoom lens with a range 25-400mm f/2.8-4 so it’s no surprise this new camera has a fairly large body size. Despite having a large body size, this camera is well built so it feels comfortable and solid in the hand because the body weight is quite light in the hand. As with other prosumer cameras that have a similar style SLR, the new camera offers a grip which comfortable and the layout of the buttons are easily accessible by a finger to access key features quickly.

At the top there is a shooting mode button that consists of aperture priority, shutter priority or manual exposure mode, or one of the automatic modes, such as Intelligent Auto (iA) mode Panasonic. All of these modes are very easy to use by the users, especially for beginners who are just learning. In addition, users can also access the feature directly through the Creative Control mode button, the feature consists of 22 filter effects including Sepia, High Dynamic, Toy Pop, Rough Monochrome, Soft Focus and Miniature Effect.

This latest prosumer camera comes with an OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a resolution 2,359k-Dot to provide the best in displaying images directly when the user is looking an object with both color viewfinder and shooting the subject can be seen clearly in the eyes of the user. Meanwhile, for reviewing images or video displays that have been taken, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 offers a 3-inch LCD Monitor with 921k-dot resolution and can articulate that helps the user to see or take pictures from different angles.

On the back there is the AF / AEL which serves to change the AF mode quickly as desired between single AF, continuous AF and manual. Aside from being one of the buttons navigation, the buttons can also be used to set the AF mode it is the left navigation buttons. Overall all the buttons on the back are very easy to use to access the various menus cameras are required. At the top left of the camera there is a button that serves to set the drive mode as continuous shooting mode, auto exposure bracketing, self-timer or timelapse modes.

Panasonic has equipped the latest prosumer camera with Wi-Fi connectivity so users do not have to bother anymore to connect the camera using a cable for transfering images and video. While the NFC feature allows users to connect the camera to a smartphone or tablet device as a remote control.

Performance & Image Quality

Beside its outstanding ability to record video 4k, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 also present with focus speed is claimed to be much higher than the FZ200 even faster than its nearest competitor the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. This prosumer camera is equipped with Light Speed ​​AF features that is claimed to provide a very high speed and accurate AF. In a wide zoom range mode AF speed reaches 0:09 seconds while the telephoto zoom range mode AF speed reaches 0:17 seconds. The AF system is supported by a 49-point focus which uses LUMIX DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology as the Panasonic GH4 are able to produce high-speed AF.

Thanks to the combination of new High Sensitivity MOS sensor has a 20.1MP resolution and processor Venus Engine, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 capable of producing high-resolution images including the recording of 4K video in high quality at speeds of up to 50fps when using the electronic shutter, when use mechanical shutter the speeds reach up to 12fps, and 7fps in a combination between the mechanical shutter and continuous AF. The camera sensor is also reliable in dealing with noise that appears thus allowing users to snap a picture of the range of ISO 125-12800 and expandable up to ISO 80-25600. If the performance of the AF and the sensor itself is so fast and awesome, then what about image quality?

For image quality, users need not worry and be sure to get incredible pictures because Panasonic has equipped the DMC-FZ1000 with a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 16x Zoom lens that has equivalent zoom range up to 25-400mm f/2.8-4 in 35mm format. By opening the aperture ranging from f/2.8-4 make this camera is also quite reliable to produce high quality images in low-light situations especially supported by the element aspherical and extra-low dispersion in the construction of the lens to provide sharp and clear images with minimal chromatic aberration including distortion image. Additionally, this camera is also supported by the HYBRID OIS image stabilization as image stabilization that reduces blur caused by camera shake.

The resulting image quality is very good, at the level of the normal ISO color looks very good with a natural white balance. Bright and clear is the characteristic of the images produced by cameras Panasonic did the image generated by the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 will not make users disappointed. If you use a lens hood when shooting will probably result in a little bit of vignetting effect on the image, but once removed lens hood image looks free of the effects of even the users can capture images with a comfortable until setting of ISO 12800. Noise is not a problem at ISO 125 setting up to ISO 1600, but may be slightly noticeable above ISO 1600 and slightly reduce the detail at ISO 6400. Although users use high sensitivity up to ISO 6400-12800 the quality still images can be used comfortably.

One of the capabilities of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 and most shocking of all is the ability to record QFHD 4K (3840 x 2160) video at 30p with an average speed of 100Mbps and stored as MP4 files. Full 1080 HD video can also be recorded at 60p, 30p, 24p, or 60i, and stored in the AVCHD format. Video recording capabilities UHD (Ultra High Definition) 4K is a capability that is very rarely owned by the current prosumer camera, so that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 become the world’s first prosumer camera that has the capability. The video quality is clear and certainly better than the Full HD video especially supported by the sound quality which is very good thanks to the internal microphone noise reduction systems or users can also use the microphone external if necessary.

Should I buy the camera?

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is a prosumer camera that uses sensors to generate high-quality images, especially when using high ISO. In addition, there are features that make it be a premium prosumer camera this time, the ability to record UHD 4k video that is not owned by other prosumer camera, a high performance of up to 50fps continuous shooting mode, including Auto Focus system that is fast, accurate, and sharp. All were offered the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 quite comparable to the price offered as well as the quality of the resulting images and videos so no wonder this camera seem quite expensive.